Clashes, crashes, battles: 5 key moments in Super2 title race
Zach Bates, Aaron Cameron, and Kai Allen were the stars of the 2024 Dunlop Super2 Series, engaging in a season-long three-way title fight that went right down to the final race of the season in Adelaide.
In 12 races there were several moments that paved the way for the title fight to unfold the way that it did, with ebbs and flows for all three drivers throughout the season.
Supercars.com takes a look at five key moments in the 2024 Dunlop Super2 Series title battle.
Race 2: Bates' controversial collision with Murray
Whilst Kai Allen swept to his second win in as many starts, there was an early stumble for eventual champion Zach Bates. Whilst fighting for the last spot on the podium, Bates made contact with Cooper Murray whilst attempting a move at The Cutting, punting the Eggleston Motorsport Commodore into the wall for the second time in as many days. Although a similar move by Cameron Crick on Zane Morse that triggered a race-ending pile-up the day before went unpunished, Bates wouldn't be as fortunate. A 30-second penalty sent Bates tumbling from third on the road to 19th in the final classification, dumping 102 points to the defending champion with one misguided overtaking attempt.
Race 4: Bates claims maiden win in wild circumstances
Bates' Sunday fortunes could not have been more different in Perth, where he claimed his maiden race and round wins after the wildest race of the year. Bates converted a front row start to head the race for the majority of the way, but had to deal with a late race restart after Mason Kelly's dramatic engine failure saw cars spear off left, right, and centre. Whilst Cameron McLeod's spectacular rollover captured most of the attention on the restart, it went mostly unnoticed that Max Vidau was leading at the time of the second red flag, having got by Bates with a bold lunge at the final corner. However, with results backdated a lap due to the final red flag, Bates was awarded the win, and re-established his championship hopes.
Race 9: Cameron's golden chance goes up in smoke
With Kai Allen and Bates both having dramas in Boost Mobile Qualifying, a heavy crash for Allen and a puncture for Bates, Race 9 at Bathurst shaped as a big opportunity for Aaron Cameron to gain big ground in the points battle. Having qualified fifth, the race start was a clear signal of Cameron's intentions, going up the extreme inside of the start in a breathtaking five-wide move to leap into second place. With Bates recovering from 12th, and Allen limping around well off the pace on seven cylinders, it appeared tailor-made for Cameron to cruise home and claim big points, only for a power steering failure in the final minutes to cruel his race, ultimately finishing behind Allen whilst Bates finished fifth.
Race 10: Allen crash blows title wide open
The missed opportunity for Cameron was further exacerbated the following day when Allen had a power steering failure of his own, only this time with far more severe consequences. The DNF for Allen, who had entered the race with a 78 point advantage over Bates, was an open invitation for his championship rivals to leap ahead in the standings. Cameron flew to his first career Dunlop Series victory after breaking the Super2 lap record to claim pole, whilst Bates drove a measured race to claim fourth and the points lead. Cameron went from 147 points off Allen to three points ahead of the Eggleston driver, whilst Bates went from 78 behind to 42 points clear of Allen, and 39 ahead of Cameron.
Race 12: Bates comes up clutch in epic finale
Cameron's second-straight win on Saturday in Adelaide set up a grandstand Sunday finale, as he sat only 15 points behind Bates, who shadowed him home in second. The two lead contenders lined up on the front row and duked it out in a brilliant opening lap tussle fit for any title decider. Cameron threw everything he could at the Walkinshaw Andretti United Commodore, however Bates was able to fend off the Kelly Racing Mustang. Allen, who had made a mistake in Saturday's race that cost him a top three, then latched onto the back of Cameron, and would spin him into the tyre wall at the end of Wakefield Street, allowing Bates to sail home to claim the race, round, and championship wins.
